Fluid meter



Filed May 22J 1942 ATTORNEY? Patented Nov. 12, 1946 FLUID METERAlexander R. Whittaker, New York, N. Y., assignor to RockwellManufacturing Company, a corv poration of Pennsylvania Application May22, 1942, Serial No. 444,034

(Cl. Z3- 257) 12 Claims. 1 l l l This invention relates 4to meters, andmore particularly to Water meters.

The primary object of my inventionl is to gen-V erally improve meters,particularly water meters. A more specific objectk of the invention istoimprove meters of the type disclosed in my co-pending applicationSerial Number 420,407, led November 25, 1941.

In that meter the measuring chamber and gear housing are made of axiallyseparable parts which are slid upwardly into a meter body and which areheld by a relatively large frost plate bolted against the open bottom ofthe meter .body and against the lowermost of said inner parts. The

inner parts are held accurately in position byv parts becoming stuck tothe inside of the meterl Ibody, which would prevent removal forinspection or repair.

A further object of the invention is to minimize the use of rust-proofmetal, thus leading to substantial economy in manufacture, andusaving ofstrategic metal neededv for military use. The greatest bulk of metal isin the meter body, formerly made of-bronze. This may instead be made ofcast iron, and the cast iron may be protected against rust by the use ofa suitable paint, for example, that known commercially as Resistin.However, it is not satisfactory to use paint on the contact surfaceswhere an accurate machined i'lt is required between the measuringchamber and the meter body.y On theother hand, it is not satisfactory tomake these contact surfaces vof bare cast iron, because of the danger ofelectrolytic action and rust. The measuring chamber may become rustedinto and non-removable from the meter body. i

In accordance with my invention, this difficulty is overcome by the useof the soft metal liners previously referred to, for these arerust-proof, and the ferrous meter body may be protectively paintedeverywhere except at the exposed contact surfaces. i

In the production of a fluid meter including .CII

my invention, the meter body is initially cast with undercut ordove-tail-sectioned grooves at the desired location of the contactsurfaces. The meter body is inverted, and an appropriate sectional coreis inserted, this core forming molding cavities or spaces on the insideof the meter body at the aforesaid dove-tail grooves. The soft,rustproof metal is molten and poured into the aforesaid spaces, theresulting contact liners being thicker than their final dimension,andbeing securely anchored to the meter body by the dovetail grooves.The entire meter body is then coated on the inside (and on the outsidethen or later) with a rust-proof paint, following which both the paintcoating and the excess liner metal is machined away at the contactsurfaces until brought to exact desired dimension to mate with thecorresponding contact surfaces on the outside ofy themeasuring chamberand gear housing,

'Io the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as willhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the meter elements andtheir relation `one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularlydescribed in the specication, and sought to be defined in the claims.The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation of a meter embodying featuresof my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of theline 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating one method of applying theliners to the inside of the meter body;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing the relation of theAcore to the meter body when the liner metal is being added;

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing a later stage in the process, afteradding a rust-proof paint;

Fig. 6 is a. similar section showing the parts after machining the linerto dimension; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view oi the glass cover for the register.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. l and 2, themeter comprises a meter body l2 having integrally cast inlet and outletconnections t4 and I6. The meter body is closed at the bottom by meansof a frost plate i3 which is bolted against the open bottom of meterbody I2 by means of four bolts 2li (Fig. 2). These pass through earshaving open slots, there being four such ears cast integrally with themeter body, and another four cast integrally with the frost plate I 8,The bolts may be made of galvanized iron, but are preferably used withbrass nuts, in order to guard against any possibility of the nutsbecoming immovably rusted to the bolts. In the present case the heads ofthe bolts are T-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2. A gasket 22 (Fig. 1) made ofrubber or other suitable soft material, is disposed between the meterbody and the frost plate.

The measuring chamber comprises a lower portion 2li and an upper portion2S secured together with a joint at 2li. Preferably said chamber is madeof bronze. An intermediate train of gearing generally designated 36 ishoused in a gear housing 32 also preferably made of bronze. The top ofthe measuring chamber acts as a bottom for the gear housing. Appropriatehard rubber bushings are provided for the various shafts, so that watersurrounding the measuring chamber and gear housing may act as alubricant. However, the gear housing itself is enclosed, and may carry aheavy oil or grease for lubrication of the meshing gear teeth.

The measuring chamber is generally cylindrical, and is formed withupright or axially directed contact surfaces on the outside. Referringto Fig. 2, there is a main contact surface around the water passage 34(in this case an outlet passage). Additional contact surfaces areprovided at 36 and 38. The contact surfaces at 3d and are also visiblein Fig. 1. All of these contact surfaces are substantially cylindrical,but are e preferably slightly tapered or conoidal so as to facilitateinsertion of the inner parts into and removal from the meter body. Themeter body is provided with mating contact surfaces to properly locatethe measuring chamber within the meter body. Considered in anotheraspect, the purpose of the narrower contact surfaces 36 and 38 is tohold the main wide Contact surface at 3G tightly against the matingcontact surface of the meter body with a leakproof nt, so that therewill be no leakage between the inlet water surrounding the measuringchamber and the discharge water flowing outwardly through the port 34.

Inasmuch as the general structural features and operation of this meterare set forth in greater detail in my cro-pending application Serialnumber Ll20,407 aforesaid, they need not be described in excessivedetail here, but it may not be amiss to brieiiy point out that waterfrom inlet iii fills the meter body and surrounds the measuring chamberand gear housing. It flows into the measuring chamber through ports 42in the top and bottom walls of the measuring chamber. The port i2 in thebottom is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and a similar passage is provided difrectly thereover in the top. The piston IM is a conventional hard rubberpiston of the balanced oscillating type, and comprises a cylindricalskirt it with a horizontal, perforated web 48 halfway between the topand bottom of the piston. A stud 5i! projects upwardly and downwardlyfrom the web 48, the bottom projection acting as a guide, and the topprojection acting to turn a key 52 on a shaft 54 projecting upwardlyinto the gear housing.

The water leaving the meter flows through passages 56 in the top andbottom walls of the measuring chamber. These are blind recesses whichlead to the upper and lower ends of the outlet port 3Q, the latterextending almost but not all the way from the top to the bottom of thecontact surface. The outlet port 34 registers with a mating port 53 inthe meter body, said port leading directly to the outlet connection 6D.

The incoming and outgoing liquid is divided by a division plate orbridge 62 (Figs. 1 and 2). The upper and lower edges of this divisionplate may be provided with lugs or projections 64 (Fig. l) which arereceived in mating grooves milled into the top and bottom of themeasuring chamber. The inner edge may be enlarged at 66 (Fig. 2) andheld in position by a pin SS passing through said enlargement into theguide ring 6g on the bottom of the measuring chamber. The piston may beadditionally guided by a small rubber roller or piston pilot lreciprocable in a groove 12,

The outer edge of the division plate or bridge S2 preferably projectsradially outwardly from the measuring chamber for a short distance, andmay be used as a locating key to insure proper orientation of themeasuring chamber in the meter body, it being received in a matinggroove in the meter body.

In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the upper part of the measuring chamberhas machined top surfaces 14, while the lower part of the measuringchamber has machined bottom surfaces 15. These are located at the upperand lower ends of the axial contact surfaces. The machined top andbottom surfaces are accurately dimensioned so that when the `bottomplate I8 is bolted in position, it will function to hold the upper andlower parts of the measuring chamber tightly together. The gasket 22 ispreferably interposed, thus affording some yieldability at the joint, toprevent leakage.

The bottom plate I3 may be weakened to act as a frost plate which breaksin the event of freezing of the water in the meter. One advantage of thepresent construction is that upon breakage of the frost plate, theholding pressure between the upper and lower halves of the measuringchamber is immediately relieved, thus permitting the same to move apart,and so avoiding breakage of the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that an arm 'I8 projects outwardlyfrom gear housing 32, and comes beneath a part of the meter body. Thisarm is strengthened by a web 8E). There are three such arms, another oneof which is visible at 19, 8| in Fig. 1. They are located at the contactsurfaces, and their top surfaces are accurately machined or finishedflush with the top contact surfaces i4. An advantage of thisconstruction is that the pressure of the bottom plate i8 of the meterholds the gear housing tightly in assembled relation with the measuringchamber, at the same time that it holds the halves of the measuringchamber together.

Heretofore the meter body has been made of a rust-proof metal,specifically bronze. The same metal, but a very much smaller quantitythereof, is used for the measuring chamber .and gear housing. Inaccordance with the present invention, the cost of the meter is greatlyreduced by making the meter body of a cheaper metal, specifically aferrous metal, such as ordinary cast iron. This change has theadditional advantage of minimizing the amount of strategic metal ofmilitary value needed to manufacture the meter.

Cast iron is subject to rust. This may be over- .come by coating thesame with a suitable rustproof paint, for example, that knowncommercially as Resistin. However, a paint coating cannot besatisfactorily used at the contact surfaces where the measuring chamberand meter body are brought together with very small tolerance. It is notdesirable to simply machine away the rust-proof coating at the contactsurfaces, be-

S cause the resulting exposure of the iron at these points may lead toelectrolytic action and to rust. Apart from deterioration of the meter,this may result in the measuring chamber becoming rusted into or stuckin the meter body, thus making it difficult to remove for purposes ofinspection and repair.

In accordance with the present invention, this diiliculty is overcome,and an improved rust-proof contact surface of extreme accuracy isprovided, by using a soft rust-proof metal as a lining for the contactsurfaces on the inside of the meter body. A specic example is thewell-known Babbitt metal, but lead and numerous lead alloys orequivalent soft metals may be used. These have a` low meltingtemperature, and form a smooth, relatively soft liner, which is easilyworked and polished, and which provides the desired close tolerancebetween the inner parts and the meter body. 1t is easy to obtain aleak-proof seal when using these soft metals. Another advantage is thatthe liners may be removed and replaced in. case their fit with the innerparts should become spoiled in any way.

Referring to Fig. 2, the soft metal liners are clearly shown at 82, forthe outlet 58; at 84 for the contact surface 36; and at 86 for thecontact surface 38. It will be noted that these are secured within themeter body by grooves having an undercut or dove-tailed section, thussecurely anchoring the liners to the meter body. In Fig. 1, it will beseen that the liner 82 has a top portion 88 forming a direct integralcontinuation of the cylindrical portion 82. The same is true at theother two liners, though these are not visible in Fig. 1. Thus both thetop and side surfaces which are accurately machined to fit the innerparts with great exactness, are all lined with the relatively soft,rust-proof metal.`

Referring to Fig. 2, the vertical groove or keyway in the meter bodywhich receives the key or projecting outer edge of the bridge plate 62,is also formed in the liner 82. It will be understood that the linersmarked 82 at each side of the outlet 58 are really parts of a singleliner, because they are joined in circumferential direction at the topand bottom, this being clear from Fig. 1. However, because of the largearea cut away for the outlet passage 58, and because of the excessivearea of the liner, two anchor grooves are preferably provided, thesebeing clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The liners are most conveniently added to and secured within the meterbody by pouring or molding the same in position. This is schematicallyillustrated in Fig. 3, in which it will be `seen that the cast-ironmeter body |2 has been inverted, and a core 98 inserted therein. Thiscore is preferably a sectional core, it being made of a number of partssuch as the part S8, which are preliminarily inserted in position andthen forced outwardly and held in position by a frustro-conical centralpart 92. The part 88 shown in Fig. 3 molds the liner 82 at the outletpassage 58, and is therefore provided with a projection 94 which stopsthe outlet port. The sections for the other liners may be shaped at theoutside as shown in Fig. 4, atthe numeral |08. The tops of thecoresections are preferably formed with an upwardly projecting rim 96(Fig. 3) 'acting as a gate or guide to facilitate pouring of the moltenliner metal from a ladle 98. If desired, the gates may be connected to asingle pouring point. The poured metal runs into the dove-tail anchorgrooves and lls'the molding cavity or space provided by the core. Thisis so dimensioned as to provide a liner of somewhat excessive thickness.The top as well as the side portions of the liners are provided at thistime.

The method of my invention may be further described with reference toFigs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 4 shows how a section |00 of the sectional corefits against a ridge |82 of the meter body l2. The core |00 forms amolding cavity at the inner face of the ridge |82, and the molten metalwhen poured into position, fills the cavity and the dovetail anchorgroove, as is clearly shown at 84.

Thereafter, the iron meter body |2 is coated with a suitable rust-proofpaint, this being applied over the entire interior of the meter body, asis clearly shown at |015. The same material is used on the outside ofthe meter body, as shown at |58, but the outside coat may, if desired,be applied later, after the interior of the meter body has been machinedto dimension. The paint coating has been omitted in Figs. 1 and 2because of the small scale of the drawing, and in order not to confusethe same.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the machining operation cuts away the coatingon the inner face or contact surface, and also cuts away some of thelinermetal, until the liner has been turned down to exact desireddimension. It will be understood that all of the contact surfaces aresimultaneously turned down. The same applies to the top contactsurfaces.V

It will also be understood that if desired, holes or recesses, eitherplain or undercut, may be provided in the meter body above the topliners in order to further anchor the bearing metal to the meter body atthese points.

The reduction gearing in the gear housing 32 terminates in a key H8.This mates with a socket ||2 at the lower end of a shaft IM, the upperend of which is keyed to a gear I i6. The latter meshes with a gear |18carried on a shaft projecting upwardly into and forming a part of theregister. This may be conventional in character, and is generallydesignated |28. The register |28 may be of the dial type, or of thestraightreading type. l

The meter body has a horizontal partition wall |22 across the upperportion or neck. This in cludes an upwardly projecting, threaded studover which is received a packing nut |24. The latter is tightenedagainst packing to prevent leakage of water up into the top of the meterbody. Any slight seepagemay escape through a vent |26.

The register has circular top and bottom plates separated by spacers.The bottom plate |28 is set into a mating annular recess in the top ofthe meter body. In the meter described in my copending applicationSerial Number 420,407 aforesaid, the register is housed in a separatebronze casting, closed by a hinged top. In the present invention, thisentire bronze upper portion of the meter body is eliminated, and isreplaced by an inverted, transparent glass cover |30. This is preferablymade of molded glass, `suitably tempered to make the same substantiallyshock-proof the meter body. The ears |34 have threadedv holes to receivea pair of sealing screws |36, these screws being of conventionalcharacter, and having holes |38 and |48 through the heads for thereception of sealing wires. A gasket |42 extends around the registerbetween they top edge of the' meter body and the bottom edge of theglass cover. This gasket may be made of cork, rubber, soft fibre, or anyother suitable material. If desired, fibre Washers ldd may be insertedbetween the heads of the sealing screws E35 and the top of the earsprojecting from the glass cover.

The glass cover improves the appearance of the meter, and has theadvantage of economy, and the further advantage of additionallysubstantially reducing the amount of bronze or rust-proof metalrequired.

It is believed that the improved meter construction of my invention, andone preferred method of making the same, as well as the advantagesthereof, will be apparent from the feregoing detailed descriptionthereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and describedmy invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, as sought to bedefined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A water meter comprising a hollow ferrous body including an openableferrous frost plate secured to the bottom of said body, a measuringchamber made of a rust-proof metal, top and side Contact surfaces in thebody for accurate t and location of the measuring chamber within thebody, said Contact surfaces being made of soft, rust-proof linerssecured to the meter body, and a rust-proof paint coating the body andfrost plate except at the faces of said liners which contact themeasuring chamber.

2. A water meter comprising a hollow castiron body including an openablecast-iron frost plate secured to the bottom of said body, a measuringchamber and gear housing made of axially superposed bronze parts, topand side contact surfaces in the meter body for accurate t and locationof the bronze parts within the body, said contact surfaces being made onrelatively soft bearing metal secured to the meter body, and a rustresisting interior coating on the body and frost plate except at thefaces of said relatively soft bearing metal liners which bear againstthe aforesaid bronze parts.

3. A meter comprising a main body including inlet and dischargeconnections cast integrally therewith, a measuring chamber having threebridge and being apertured to provide a port D communicating withdischarge passages in the top and bottom walls of the measuring chamber,inlet ports passing through the top and bottom walls of the measuringchamber on the opposite side of the bridge, said meter body having threesoft metal liners accurately machined to receive said contact surfacesand properly locate the measuring chamber, one of these having a porttherethrough registering with the first-named port, and two of theliners acting to hold the third contact surface and registering portswith so tight a iit as to prevent leakage between the liquid surroundingthe measuring chamber and the liquid passing through the ports.

4. A water meter comprising a main body including inlet and dischargeconnections, a measuring chamber having three axially directed slightlytapered contact surfaces on the outside, a piston Within said measuringcharnber, a bridge in said measuring chamber for cooperation with saidpiston, the outer edge of said bridge projecting outside the measuringchamber to act as a locating key when inserting the measuring chamberthrough the bottom of the meter body, one of said contact surfaces beingdisposed near the bridge and being apertured to provide a portcommunicating with discharge passages in the top and bottom walls of themeasuring chamber, inlet ports through the top and bottom walls of themeasuring chamber on the opposite side of the bridge, said meter bodyhaving three soft metal liners accurately machined to receive saidcontact surfaces and properly locate the measuring chamber, one of thesehaving a port therethrough registering with the aforesaid port, and alsohaving a slot to receive the aforesaid projecting bridge edge, and twoof the liners acting to hold the third contact surface and registeringports with so tight a t as to prevent leakage between the watersurrounding the measuring chamber and the water passing through theports.

5. A Water meter comprising a main body made of ferrous metal, andincluding inlet and discharge connections cast integrally therewith, ameasuring chamber made of rust-proof metal and having three axiallydirected slightly tapered contact surfaces on the outside, a pistonwithin said measuring chamber, a bridge in said measuring chamber forcooperation with said piston, one of said contact surfaces beingdisposed near the bridge and being apertured to provide a portcommunicating with discharge passages in the top and bottom walls of themeasuring chamber, inlet ports passing through the top and bottom wallsof the measuring chamber on the opposite side of the bridge, said meterbody having three soft metal liners accurately machined to receive saidcontact surfaces and properly locate the measuring chamber, and one ofthese having a port therethrough registering with the aforesaid port,two of the liners acting to hold the third contact surface andregistering ports with so tight a t as to prevent leakage between thewater surrounding the measuring chamber and the water passing throughthe registering ports, the meter body being coated with a rust-proofpaint except at the aforesaid machined surfaces of the metal liners.

6. A water meter comprising a main body made of ferrous metal, andincluding inlet and discharge connections cast integrally therewith, arelatively large frost plate made of ferrous metal bolted to and closingthe otherwise open bottom of said meter body, a measuring chamber madeof rusteproof metal and comprising two parts joined together to form anapproximately cylindrical chamber having three axially directed contactsurfaces and also top and bottom contact surfaces on the outside, apiston of the oscillating type within said measuring chamber, a bridgein said measuring chamber for cooperation with said piston, one of saidcontact surfaces being disposed near the bridge and being apertured toprovide a port communicating with recesses in the top and bottom wallsof the measuring chamber, additional water passages passing through thetop and bottom walls of the measuring chamber on the opposite side ofthe bridge, said meter body having three top and three side liners madeof soft rust-proof metal and accurately machined to receive said contactsurfaces and properly locate the measuring chamber, one of these havinga port therethrough registering with the aforesaid port, two of theliners acting to hold the third the liners, said frost plate holding theparts of the measuring chamber together so that breakage of the frostplate will permit separation of the measuring chamber without breakageof the latter.

7. A water meter comprising a ferrous meter body, a ferrous frost platesecured to the bottom of said body, a gear housing and a measuringchamber made of rust-proof parts and disposed in axially superposedrelation, said meter body having contact surfaces made of a softrust-proof metal at bearing points against the gear housing and themeasuring chamber, the frost plate being sealed to the body by a gasketand also pushing upwardly against contact surfaces which react upwardlythrough said measuring chamber against the gear housing, the body andfrost plate being coated with rust-proof paint, except on the aforesaidsoft metal contact surfaces which are machined away to accurately ltmating machined contact surfaces on the rust-proof parts, said frostplate holding the measuring chamber and gear housing in said meter body.

8. A water meter comprising a ferrous meter body, a ferrous frost platesecured to the bottom of said body, a measuring chamber made ofrustproof parts disposed inside said body, said meter body havingcontact surfaces made of a soft rustproof metal at bearing pointsagainst the measuring chamber, the frost plate being sealed to the bodyby a gasket and also pushing upwardly against contact surfaces atthebottorn of the measuring chamber, the body and frost plate `be ingcoated with rust-proof paint, except on the aforesaid soft metal contactsurfaces which are machined away to accurately t mating machined contactsurfaces on the measuring chamber, said frost plate holding themeasuring chamber in said body, so that breakage of the frost plate willpermit separation of the measuring chamber from said body.

9. A water meter comprising a ferrous meter body, a ferrous frost platesecured to the bottom of said body, a measuring chamber and gear housingmade of three rust-proof parts disposed in axially superposed relationinside said body, the

middle part acting as the top of the measuring chamber and also as thebottom of the gear housing, said meter body having contact surfaces madeof a soft rust-proof metal at bearing points 10 against the gear housingand measuring cham-be the frost plate being sealed to the body by agasket, the body and frost plate being coated with rust-proof paint,`except on the aforesaid soft metal contact surfaces which are machinedaway to accurately fit mating. machined contact surfaces on the gearhousing and measuring chamber, said frost plate holding the gear housingand measuring chamber in said body, so that breakage of the frost platewill permit separation of the gear housing and measuring chamber fromsaid body.

10. A water meter comprising a cast iron meter body, a cast iron frostplate secured to the bottom of said body, a measuring chamber and gearhousing made of three bronze parts disposed in axially superposedrelation inside said body, the middle part acting as the top of themeasuring chamber and also as the bottom of the gear housing, the toppart having arms extending outwardly and lying in the same plane asparts of the middle portion, said meter body having Contact surfacesmade of a soft rust-proof metal at bearing points against the aforesaidarms of the gear housing and at bearing points with the measuringchamber, the frost plate being sealed to the body by a gasket which alsobears against contact surfaces at the bottom of the measuring chamber,the body and frost plate being coated with rustproof paint, except onthe aforesaid soft metal contact surfaces which are machined away toaccurately fit mating machined contact surfaces on the bronze parts,said frost plate holding the bronze parts together, so that breakage ofthe frost plate will permit separation of the bronze parts withoutbreakage of the latter.

11. In a liquid meter, a'hollow meter casing having inlet and outletports for a liquid to be passed therethrough and composed of a metalnormally liable to corrode or rust when exposed to said liquid, ameasuring chamber within said casing between said ports having aplurality of spaced lateral surfaces, and a plurality of spaced linermembers having machined surfaces engaging said first mentioned surfacessecured within said casing, said liner members being composed of areadily machinable softer metal which is resistant to corrosion or rustby said liquid so as to provide an accurately fitted corrosion orrustproof joint between said measuring chamber and the casing enablingthe chamber to be readily taken from the casing even after considerableusage.

12. In the liquid meter defined in claim 11, a plurality of internalprojections within said casing, and said liner members being cast onsaid projections prior to machining.

ALEXANDER R. WHITTAKER.

